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Break-in at dad’s office leads to arrest

Police: Son not charged in break-in, but with theft of gun in another case

By Tara Becker tbecker@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570

Oct. 17, 2012

Caption

William A. Dodge

Caption

Cortney L. Gonzales

STERLING – Bond was set Tuesday at $100,000 for a parolee arrested after police say they found syringes and a stolen gun safe in a home where he was staying.

William A. Dodge, 29, was arrested Monday, about 6 hours after police responded to a break-in at the office of his father, CPA William C. Dodge, 408 E. Fourth St., where a handgun was stolen.

Detective Ryan Brownell declined to say whether the younger Dodge or Cortney L. Gonzales, also arrested at the home Monday, are suspects in the break-in. Neither have been charged in that case.

The break-in was reported about 5:41 a.m. Monday, and police are trying to determine whether anything else was stolen, Brownell said. It appears the burglar or burglars forced their way in through a window.

About 12:30 p.m., police and an Illinois Department of Corrections parole agent went to Dodge’s home to talk about the break-in. While there, they found syringes throughout the house and in a bedroom he was in, Brownell said.

One of the syringes had a liquid in it. It has been sent to the state police crime lab for testing, and more charges may be filed, Brownell said.

Police also found a small gun safe in the bedroom that was reported stolen 2 weeks ago in Whiteside County, he said.

Dodge was charged with felony theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Because he is on parole, police did not need a warrant to search the home.

Gonzales, 23, was arrested on a warrant charging five counts each of forgery and burglary. Police say she stole checks from a family member of an acquaintance last month and wrote about $1,800 in checks.

She also is charged with violating an order of protection that Dodge took out against her in July.

Her bond was set Tuesday $50,000. Both have a preliminary hearing Oct. 25.

In October 2011, Dodge was sentenced to boot camp after pleading guilty to two counts of retail theft in Whiteside County. He also got boot camp for violating his probation on a burglary case.

Anyone with information about the office break-in is asked to call police at 815-632-6640 or Whiteside County Crime Stoppers at 815-625-7867.